Ombudsman: Villars under investigation concerning water firm

Inquirer.net - Sep 19, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has initiated a preliminary investigation focusing on members of the Villar family and executives of the water utility firm that they previously owned for possible violations of the anti-graft law. In a statement on Friday, the Ombudsman said criminal and administrative complaints against Senators Mark and Camille

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Baguio artist sets Guinness record with giant mandala

Sep 19, 2026

Baguio artist sets Guinness record with giant mandala

BAGUIO CITY — A giant crocheted mandala measuring 6 meters (19 feet) in diameter has earned Baguio artist Adelaida Guia a Guinness World Records title for the largest mandala crocheted by a single person. Guia received an email on Thursday, Sept. 17, informing her that she had officially set the record with her 29-square-meter creation.

Bohol fast-tracks P5-M cloud-seeding plan amid dry spell

Sep 19, 2026

Bohol fast-tracks P5-M cloud-seeding plan amid dry spell

TAGBILARAN CITY—The Bohol provincial government is fast-tracking the procurement of a P5-million cloud-seeding operation as prolonged heat and below-normal water levels threaten thousands of hectares of farmland across the province. Provincial Administrator Asteria Caberte said during the full-council meeting of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) on Thursday that the contract could

Woman under probe for allegedly eavesdropping on singer Cha Eun-woo

Sep 19, 2026

Woman under probe for allegedly eavesdropping on singer Cha Eun-woo

A woman is being investigated on suspicion of eavesdropping on singer-actor Cha Eun-woo by installing a recording device under a cafe table last month, police said Friday. The woman in her 50s was caught by police on Aug. 30 while removing the device from the cafe in Seoul's Yongsan Ward where Cha was meeting with an acquaintance, according to the Yongsan Police Station. She allegedly used the same method twice last month to eavesdrop on Cha's conversations. Police are reportedly determining whether she had any accomplices and how she got hold of the device by conducting a forensic analysis of her phone, among other measures.

Toxic humidifier survivors face daily struggles, discrimination

Sep 19, 2026

Toxic humidifier survivors face daily struggles, discrimination

"I want to take my shirt off and exercise like my friends do, too!" Lim Jae-i, 80, cannot forget her grandson's anguished cry years ago. Lee Hyun-seo, 25, was exposed to humidifier disinfectant — an antibacterial liquid added to humidifier water — while still in the womb and was born prematurely. He cycled in and out of hospitals with nontuberculous lung disease, a chronic lung condition unrelated to tuberculosis, and he almost never complained. Then adolescence arrived and he reached a breaking point. Facing a mirror, he saw a chest left concave by years of drug treatment and labored breathing and a body that remained thin. He realized that his life would never resemble those of his peers. The infants who bore the brunt of Korea's humidifier disinfectant disaster have reached young adulthood. A 2025 Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment survey of victims drew 1,213 responses, 321 (26.5 percent) of which came from victims in their 20s or younger. A tragedy the public still associates primarily with infant fatalities now runs through its survivors as an unfinished daily grind o

S. Korea, US vow to strengthen cooperation to accelerate wartime OPCON transition in defense talks

Sep 19, 2026

S. Korea, US vow to strengthen cooperation to accelerate wartime OPCON transition in defense talks

Korea and the United States pledged to reinforce cooperation to accelerate the transition of wartime operational control (OPCON) to Seoul from Washington during their senior-level defense talks this week, a joint statement said Friday. The allies held the 29th Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD) in Korea's southeastern city of Busan from Wednesday to Friday (Korea time), as Korean President Lee Jae Myung's administration seeks to retake wartime OPCON before the end of its term in 2030. "Both sides evaluated the work to modernize the alliance in the face of an evolving security environment," they said in the statement. "They also assessed progress on the Conditions-based Wartime Operational Control Transition Plan, and pledged to strengthen cooperation to accelerate the transition of wartime OPCON," they added. Seoul and Washington have been working on the conditions-based OPCON transfer since they agreed on it in October 2014. The conditions include Korea's capabilities to lead combined Korea-U.S. forces, its strike and air defense capabilities, and a regional security environm

Korea and Indonesia seal halal deal to safeguard K-food, beauty exports

Sep 19, 2026

Korea and Indonesia seal halal deal to safeguard K-food, beauty exports

With strict new religious compliance rules set to take effect across Southeast Asia, Korea is taking decisive diplomatic steps to protect its booming cultural exports. Health and regulatory officials in Seoul signed a landmark agreement with Indonesia on Friday to streamline halal certification — clearing a critical path for Korean food and cosmetics brands entering the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation. Food and Drug Safety Minister Oh Yu-kyoung signed a memorandum of understanding with Indonesia’s Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH) during the fifth Halal 20 Summit in Depok, Indonesia, the ministry said. The agreement serves as a direct follow-up to a bilateral defense and economic summit held in March, where both nations pledged to expand mutual market access under a Special Strategic Partnership. The regulatory pact arrives at a pivotal moment for Korean exporters. Starting Oct. 18, Indonesia will enforce mandatory halal certification for all imported food, beverage and cosmetic products. Without official certification verifying that products comply wit

Cheong Wa Dae says Lee's 'no war intervention' remark not a rejection of Trump's Hormuz request

Sep 19, 2026

Cheong Wa Dae says Lee's 'no war intervention' remark not a rejection of Trump's Hormuz request

Cheong Wa Dae said Saturday that President Lee Jae Myung's remarks ruling out troop dispatches that could involve the country in a war were not a refusal of U.S. President Donald Trump's request for Seoul to send forces to the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The presidential office clarified the position after the New York Times reported that Lee's comments at a press conference Friday amounted to a rejection of Trump's appeal for Seoul's military cooperation in the Middle East. "Lee did not turn down Trump's request for Korea's cooperation on Middle East-related issues during yesterday's press conference," a presidential official told reporters on condition of anonymity. "The government has been reviewing practical ways to contribute in close communication with the international community, including the United States, in order to protect our citizens and safeguard national interests." Seoul will continue to examine concrete options under its stated principle of not intervening in a war or combat, the official added. On Friday, Lee said during the nationally televised press conference that "

Kim withdraws as justice minister nominee

Sep 19, 2026

Kim withdraws as justice minister nominee

Justice minister nominee Kim Seung-won withdrew his nomination on Saturday following allegations concerning his involvement in a COVID-19 treatment and approval of its clinical trials. “After much deliberation, I decided to step down as the nominee for justice minister. I apologize for failing to live up to your expectations,” Kim said during a press conference at the National Assembly. The move comes after a parliamentary committee adopted his confirmation hearing report Thursday amid objections from the main opposition People Power Party over the allegations. Kim, a two-term lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), served as a judge at the Jeonju District Court and the Suwon District Court before joining the presidential office under the liberal Moon Jae-in administration, where he worked in the office of political affairs. He was elected to the 21st National Assembly in 2020 and later served as DPK's legal affairs committee chief.

Bucheon festival brings comics to life with global cosplay, community fun

Sep 19, 2026

Bucheon festival brings comics to life with global cosplay, community fun

BUCHEON, Gyeonggi Province — The area around the Korea Manhwa Museum in Bucheon turned into a lively celebration of pop culture on Friday as colorful comic panels came to life for the opening day of the 29th Bucheon International Comics Festival. Running through Sunday under the theme "Comics & Webtoons: Easy to Love, Endless to Enjoy," the annual three-day event kicked off with a rich mix of global cosplay competitions, interactive community programs and passionate fans bringing their favorite characters into reality. Friday's opening day offered a rich variety of experiences, drawing families, international visitors and dedicated pop culture enthusiasts. Inside the museum, local volunteers warmly greeted young visitors at hands-on craft booths, guiding children as they decorated everyday items like keyboards and hand mirrors with cartoon characters. "We joined the festival as volunteers out of a shared passion as Bucheon residents to promote our city's signature cultural identity," a local volunteer said. "At first, seeing all the cosplayers felt a bit unfamiliar. But seeing how passi

Nepal’s Gen Z Is Taking on the World’s Polluters Over Climate Disasters

Sep 19, 2026

Nepal’s Gen Z Is Taking on the World’s Polluters Over Climate Disasters

The young government of Nepal, a nation with a tiny carbon footprint, is seeking reparations from the world’s major economies as it bears the brunt of collapsing Himalayan glaciers.

The ‘difficult’ Etta Rosales — and why she stands out in her one-of-a-kind generation of activists

Sep 19, 2026

The ‘difficult’ Etta Rosales — and why she stands out in her one-of-a-kind generation of activists

Ateneo professor Melay Abao writes about the life and times of Etta Rosales, the former communist who became a lawmaker and eventually headed the Commission on Human Rights

Pickle-flavoured tart, anyone? Japanese convenience stores turn to AI for novelty sweets

Sep 19, 2026

Pickle-flavoured tart, anyone? Japanese convenience stores turn to AI for novelty sweets

Fears that advanced artificial intelligence could wipe out humanity have dominated global headlines, but in Japan the technology is being used for a sweeter purpose – developing never-before-seen convenience store desserts. For customers tired of the usual egg sandwiches and rice balls, major chains are turning to AI to develop products, including some unexpected flavours. Lawson, one of the country’s biggest convenience store operators, said on Tuesday it would roll out three new food items,...

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